Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-01-06
FIGHTING THE d. & o.
Are ths ReaAing and PennsY lvsnIa
Aincs working E0gctliera


Lhncs working together
PHIrADEnPHIA, Dec 29.- The confer.
ences that are now held almost daily
between leading executive officers of the
Pennsylvania and Reading Railroad Com.
panies lead TO the conviction in n.ilroad
circles that an important deal is in pro-
cess OF formation. President Roberts
and Director Cassatt were in consultation
with President oorbin yesterday in the
latier's office, and TO day President Corbin
visited the Pennsylvania railroad Office,
where he held long consultation with
President Roberts and Vice-President
Thomson. All of these officials decline
to answer inquiries in regard to the sub
ject discussed, but it ia learned from re-
liable sources that the objects of the con-
ference are the relations existing between
the Reading and Pennsylvania in tho
Schulkill coal regions and the attitude OF
both companies toward the B. e. 0. as o
through route.
The first of these topics can, it is said,
be disposed of without serious contro-
yersy. The other il regarded rs more
difficult to handle. The b. & o. Il. r.
Co. completed its connection with the
Reading tracks at Pennsylvania avenue
by the opening of its tunnel at the eastern
entrance of Fairmount Park on the 18th
instant, Since then few freight trains
have been over the line to New York, but
no attempt has been made to get business,
because the B. & o. have no contract for
carrying il. The Pennsylvania Railroad
Company offered the new line facilities
some time ago, but they were not
accepted in const qnence of pending nego-
tiations with the Reading. The pcgotia-
tions were carried on by Vice. Pre- sident
King Of the B. & o. and President Corbin
If the Reading, but they have uo, n eched
! conclusirn. The e. :, rHure Of tho rtla-
'ions between the Kcad'gg aud The Jersey
Central was assign Il AZ niie 81 the rauses
# delay, but tho Ra,atre ffieiRls are
.lso stated by the Il 4 o. people 4, heye
shown IN indisiioSition to fpeilit,ito the
opening Of the new through line Ms 0
con petition.
"fhe Reading executives have" said e
B. 81 o, official 10 day, ''shown purpose
to temporize with this matter, md have
held forth all sorts Of petty reasons for
their dilatory conduct. First they com
planned that 10 open up this traffic at this
time would tax their motive power to too
greet an extent. The B. & D. offered 20
furnish the motive power. Then the
Reading folks represented that they could
not get their superintendents TO arrange
schedules for through trains Oh brief
notice. But everybody knows that is e
very simple matter
Other equally puerils aud no more
tangible reasons for the delay have been
assigned, but something mnst he done
soon. Furthermore any arrangement that
the b. d o. may make with either the
Res,lins or PArneylrsnia for ita New
York connection must have the element
of independence about it, for the Grcum-
stances under which the line came into
this city demand that. 1t may b9 that
the two New York lines may demand
better terms, but no matter what the
terms are, the B. q o. must be placed in
the light Of an independent route"
II is said in some quarters that there is
still good prospect of the Pennsylvania
railroad carrying the b. & o.'s New York
passengers while the Reading and Jersey
Central transact its New York freight
business.